Welcome to the St. Louis City Museum! An ancient hallway opens into the main chamber
where families gather before beginning their adventure.
Many of the structures suggest ancient contexts.The large stairwell in the main chamber is part of a dinosaur’s back. Gargoyles line the balconies, spitting out streams of water into little pools down below. There is a casual dining area that is built with fossils and crystals jutting out from the ceiling like stalactites.
The environment is perfectly integrated into the experience.
People wander around as if saying,
“that thing right there – how do I get to where that is??”
A network of coil tunnels runs all throughout the museum.
As suggested by a plaque near the bathroom,
the experience of the city museum is all about refreshing one’s vitality.
The city museum fosters a sort of “re-youthing.”
There is a small skateboard park. The teenagers show off their athletic talents.
There is also an art exhibit area, but no one seems to be interested in it. Could this be because it doesn’t rejuvenate or engage the body?
The main attraction of the museum is “Monstro City,” an airborne playground attached to the building. It was made by taking scrapped parts of old machinery and joining them together, creating an experience that appeals to the adventurer inside of us all.
The museum workers are constantly asked: “How do we get out there?”
“I have people coming up here thinking they’re on the roof even though there’s a ceiling right above them,” the mini-donut seller reflects on the clueless visitors.
The “re-youthing” experience has carried many adults back to a childlike play.
The city museum is a collection of historical artifacts; as people engage with these artifacts, they are rejuvenating life within both themselves and the museum, a constant cycle of aging and renewal.
Staying engaged keeps life fresh and new, despite how old something really is.
This book was written and illustrated by Daniel Raggs III in December 2013, at Washington University in St. Louis. Daniel can be contacted at nestec492@gmail.com Š2013 MSRP: $5.99